C10 When the Heavens Bestow a Great Responsibility upon a Person, It must be First!

"Grandfather, what exactly is the point of all this grueling training?"

Exhausted, Igrel leaned against a rock, gasping for air. The emptiness from his drained magic made him feel utterly miserable, and the torrential rain offered no respite. With his head bowed, he let the rain run off his chin, splashing onto the ground. After a while, he lifted his head to confront Renafam.

"I don't want to see your talent squandered. I thought I had made that abundantly clear," Renafam said, locking eyes with Igrel.

"You did say that, but my inherited memories tell me that only abandoned young dragons, those without parents, are subjected to this... not at this stage."

Igrel's voice was tired, and as he spoke, rainwater trickled into his mouth, almost choking him.

"Well, your parents aren't here, so you might as well be abandoned," Renafam stated coldly.

"But you're my grandfather," Igrel replied, clearly bewildered.

"When it comes to training, I don't treat you as my grandson," Renafam answered, deepening Igrel's confusion.

"Merely having talent won't elevate you above the ranks of the great dragons. The sacrifices you make for greater power are always worth it," Renafam said emotionlessly, gazing at Igrel.

"I never dreamed of standing at the pinnacle among the great dragons. I'm just a young dragon, Grandfather..."

Igrel lowered his eyes, murmuring to himself.

"You're quite like Carrick was at your age," Renafam commented out of the blue, his voice cutting through the sound of the rain.

Suddenly, Igrel heard Renafam's low whisper near his ear. He shifted his gaze, and Renafam's figure became somewhat blurred by the torrential rain.

"Father?" Igrel asked, his face etched with confusion.

"You may resemble Garcia in appearance, but your temperament seems more akin to Carrick," Renafam mused, watching the young dragon before him, his voice tinged with reminiscence.

"Dragons are belligerent by nature. For us, the Heavenly Dragon Seed, this craving for battle is even more intense, which often leads to a volatile temper. Yet, your father Carrick was an anomaly; his demeanor was calmer and more peaceful, an aversion to strife among giants."

Renafam's tone shifted to one of dissatisfaction and regret as he continued, "I deeply regret letting Carrick grow up as he pleased, in comfort and ease. He had potential, not as much as yours, but still above average for our kind. Unfortunately, my indulgence led to his current state."

"The competition within the Giant Dragon Clan is far fiercer than you can imagine. Carrick always avoided conflict, and as a result, he's lost time and again. The lowest a Heavenly Dragon Seed can be is fifth rank, and that's for the worthless ones who do nothing but eat and sleep. With some effort, reaching the seventh rank should be the norm."

Mid-sentence, Renafam's frustration erupted, and he bellowed a furious roar skyward.

"But that disappointing Carrick, nearly three hundred years old and still at the Sixth Rank, has nearly driven me to my grave with shame. It's a disgrace, especially for me—one of the few Dragon Kings. He's become a laughingstock, and I endure mockery from my peers at every gathering. It's maddening!"

"Of all my children, your father has had the toughest life. Without strength, he couldn't compete with the other giants, and therefore, he's not entitled to live in the heart of 'Reed Grant,' only on the periphery. Even as a Dragon King, I can't interfere; otherwise, the other Kings would take issue."

Renafam sighed helplessly, his figure growing increasingly desolate in the relentless downpour.

"Carrick's weakness has left him without a mate. I've tried to arrange matches for him, but despite my status, even the seventh-rank females of our kind have rejected him. Ordinary female dragons are eager to claim his Heavenly Dragon Seed lineage, hoping to elevate their status, but I've turned them all away."

"In the end, he chose Garcia, a dragoness of equally modest talent and temperament, also just a Sixth Rank. But by that point, what more could I say? At least Garcia is of the Heavenly Dragon Seed. That's the last thing I can ask for."

Renafam's face was the picture of helplessness.

"...Dad, you're practically the poster child for the 'underdog hero' trope. But why didn't you pull off the same kind of underdog victory? If you had, I might have been born at the pinnacle of dragonhood."

A wry smile flickered across Igrel's lips as he listened to Renafam's tale.

"I had almost given up hope for your father, but he managed to surprise me in a big way."

Lost in thought, Igrel suddenly felt Renafam's intense gaze upon him.

"Maybe it's a case of two wrongs making a right, or perhaps there's another reason, but Carrick and Garcia have brought into the world a dragon as full of potential as you. I've seen my other children's offspring, and their talents are mediocre at best. Even your sister Oliveira is quite average. You're the only one in the new generation who gives me any hope."

Renafam's smile was chilling to Igrel.

"I refuse to make the same mistake I made with your father. This time, I'm committed to shaping you into an outstanding and powerful dragon. The Heavenly Dragon Seed—Trix—has numerous branches, and thanks to my role as the Dragon King, ours is one of the mightiest. However, your uncle, aunt, and father are not up to par. In a few hundred years, once I've passed, our line could fade away without a strong successor."

"Therefore, my grandson Igrel, you will have to bear the burdens your father never did. I have chosen you to carry on the legacy of our branch!"

With a decisive gesture, Renafam pointed at the dumbfounded Igrel as he declared his intentions.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea..."

Igrel shook his head emphatically, voicing his objection.

"It's a good idea if I say it is! Are you rested enough? It's time for the next phase of your training. Get ready!"

"No, not that, please!!!"

Screams tore through the air, blending with the relentless sound of the downpour.

"Mm-hmm!"

In the cave, Garcia and Carrick's heads shot up, their eyes wide open.

"Carrick, I could've sworn I just heard Igrel's voice."

"Me too."

Carrick nodded in agreement with Garcia.

"But Igrel is training with father, far from here. Maybe we're just longing for him."

"Possibly."

Garcia seemed to come to terms with Carrick's reasoning and laid her head back down to rest.

"Igrel..."

Oliveira, nestled close to Garcia's tail, murmured the name softly in her sleep.